Friday, November 30, 2012 Volume 85, Number 8 Daily Bulletin 85th Fall North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Paul Linxwiler Diamond, Platnick win Kaplan Blue Ribbon Two-thirds of the 2010 world champion John Diamond team took the top two places in the Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs, and it was the captain and his partner finishing first by just 9 matchpoints on a top of 38. Diamond and Brian Platnick, who were third in the Kay Platinum Pairs earlier this year, finished just ahead of teammates Geoff Hampson and Eric Greco. The four of them, plus Fred Gitelman and Brad Moss, won the Spingold Knockout Teams in the summer of 2010 and followed it in the fall with a victory in the Rosenblum Open Knockout Teams at Winners of the Senior Mixed Pairs: Steve Cooper and Kitty Cooper. the World Bridge Championships in Philadelphia. The Blue Ribbon win was the first pairs title Coopers win Senior Mixed for Platnick, the second for Diamond, who won the Kitty and Steve Cooper of Lakeside CA won the national Fast Open Pairs with Hampson in 2011. Blue Ribbon Pairs winners Brian Platnick and four-session Senior Mixed Pairs, marking the second John Diamond. continued on page 5 time the couple has won an NABC title together. The Coopers were lying sixth after Wednesday’s qualifying round. Their final session scores of Today is Kyle Larsen Day 52.45% and 59.52% combined with their carryover On Aug. 21, the either as partner or opponent, was above all others. was good enough to push them into the winner’s bridge world lost one You always felt good leaving the table with Kyle circle. Their two-day total was 2041.75. of its best players and, around, even if you got a cold zero. In second by a half board were Sally Meckstroth more important, one of “We will never for get Kyle, who loved bridge for and Ed Schulte were 2016.77. its best ambassadors. the game. Before he passed, he told me to keep This NABC is the first time the Coopers, who It is appropriate that on playing for him. I feel his presence at the table continued on page 15 he is honored in San always, and picture the twinkle in his eye when I play Francisco, his home. or defend a hand well. Rose Meltzer, “A member of the ACBL Hall of Fame and loved Larsen’s partner in by all who knew him, he will remain forever in our winning two world hearts.” championships, is Larsen, a Grand Life Master, was elected to among those mourning the ACBL Bridge Hall of Fame this year but was his passing. unable to attend the induction ceremony at the “One of the world’s most talented bridge players, Summer NABC in Philadelphia. Unable to attend his Kyle Larsen, lost his battle with cancer last August,” induction ceremony in person because of his illness, Meltzer wrote. “Kyle grew up in San Francisco and Larsen and his family were present electronically (via showed off his talent at bridge at a very young age, a Skype connection) to hear the accolades bestowed winning the prestigious Reisinger at age 16. Also upon him. known as the ‘quiet man,’ his demeanor at the table, continued on page 7 Kevin Young and Peter Worby, winners of the Hungarians wowed by first NABC experience Mini-Blue Ribbon Pairs. Imagine going to a foreign country to play bridge and winning a major championship. Now imagine Young, Worby take going back to your hotel room and hearing the phone ring. When you pick it up, you hear something like Mini-Blue title this on the other end of the line: “Hi, this is Barack Despite a poor semifinal round that made Obama. I just called to congratulate you on your big Kevin Young and Peter Worby believe they had win.” not qualified for the final of the 0-5000 Mini-Blue That’s not likely to happen, of course, but two Ribbon Pairs, the duo turned in a strong performance Hungarian players at the Fall NABC in San Francisco in yesterday’s final to win the six-session contest by had just such an experience last summer. almost a full board. Miklos Dumbovich and Mihaly Kovacs were continued on page 5 members of the Hungarian Senior team at the 14th World Bridge Games in Lille, France. They soundly Preregistration required defeated an American squad in the final of the event, setting off celebrations all over their home country. for Reisinger Teams that wish to enter the Reisinger Board-a- Hungarian President Janos Ader called while the Match Teams must preregister no later than 11 a.m. team was still in Lille to offer congratulations. When Hungarian world champions Miklos Dumbovich today. the six-man squad – plus a coach – returned home, and Mihaly Kovacs. See TD Charlie MacCracken in Yerba Buena, they were the darlings of the news media. The victory Salon 7, on the bottom level. was front-page news in newspapers all over Hungary, qualifying round-robin, then knocked off Singapore and team members were on television news and talk and formidable teams from Poland and Sweden shows. before meeting the Richard Schwartz team in the Attendance through Dumbovich and Kovacs don’t speak English championship round. Thursday evening well, so Andras Budinszky, who lived in the U.S. for Schwartz won the first set, but Hungary won the more than 20 years until 2005, helped as interpreter. next two sets by the combined scores of 112-37. The 10,347 tables The Hungarian Seniors led their group in the continued on page 7 Page 2 Friday, November 30, 2012 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Sunday, Dec. 2 Peter Pender Memorial Vugraph Theater presentation. Room: TBA CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss the following free lecture in San Francisco in Golden Gate Ballroom, B2 Level. Friday, Nov. 30 Saturday, Dec. 1 9:15 a.m. Phillip Alder Going Fast Forward with Reverse 9:15 a.m. Michael Huston Convention Choices Drury 6:45 P.m. Ellen Kent Slam Bidding for the Minors 6:45 p.m. GS Jade Barrett The Learning Curve LATE NIGHT FOOD Late-night treats are available after the evening session in the Yerba Buena foyer, Bottom Level. Friday, Nov. 30 Ice Cream Saturday, Dec. 1 Fresh fruit smoothies Entertainment Friday, Nov. 30 Saturday, Dec. 1 Bridge, a capella jazz, a glass of wine, and thou Dreams Can Come True Chill to the cool harmonies of Jazz Infinitum under the direction of choral Not long ago, beginning bridge player Chuck Wong dreamed of someday director/Life Master Jim Heiner and his ensemble, including bridge players performing at a national bridge event singing about the joys and angst of our Jody Pracklet and Iris Libby. Open your wine bottles from your section tops and wonderful game. Come and enjoy the sweet a capella harmonies of his singing swoon to the sweetest a capella chords ever. Venue will be near the refreshments group Fusion that melds tunes from pop, doo wop, and musical theater. Join outside the Golden Gate Ballroom after the evening session. your fellow bridge players to the sing along with bridge songs I Left My Hearts in San Francisco and You Gotta Have Hearts. Follow the trail to the fruit smoothies outside the Golden Gate Ballroom and enjoy. Big sale at PDI books New event for Spring NABC Partnership Desk Visit PDI books on the lower level of the hotel The ACBL Board of Directors has approved an The Partnership Desk. located on the bottom to take advantage of a one-day sale. More than 1000 event that will debut at the 2013 Spring NABC in level in the Yerba Buena foyer, will open daily during used books will be available. St. Louis. It is a “10K”, four-session 0-10,000 Swiss the following hours: Teams that will be played on the first Friday and 8-10:15 a.m. Mission Grille Saturday of the tournament. Subject to a 10-point Noon – 1:15 p.m. cap, the event will award 10% platinum masterpoints 6:30-7:45 p.m. Dinner Buffet Menu to teams that place in the overall of the event. The Mission Grille, Marriott second floor, offers More details of the event will be featured in the Section Top Prize Desk the following buffet menu for $19: February issue of the ACBL Bridge Bulletin. The Section Top Prize Desk, located on the Friday, Nov. 30 bottom level in the Yerba Buena Foyer, will be open Mixed greens, choice of two dressings, tomato Open championships daily at the following times: mozzarella salad, BBQ chicken, meatloaf and 8:45-9:45 a.m. mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, in Panama 11:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m. chef’s choice of desserts. For the first time, the Caribbean and Central 6:15-7:15 p.m. American Bridge Federation is conducting an Open International Notice to players Festival similar to what the Each player must have an ACBL convention European Bridge League does in card filled out and on the table. Please note that odd-numbered years. The CACBF other types of convention cards, such as the WBF tournament is scheduled for May convention card or homemade cards that do not 17 – 26. sufficiently resemble the ACBL convention card, are The open tournament will not acceptable substitutes. run concurrently with the 27th CACBF Zonal Championships No smoking in the Marriott in Panama City, Panama at the Players are reminded that smoking is prohibited El Panama Hotel.